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Lagaan for Oscars; New Horizons for ARR?

Topic started by WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.131) on Sun Nov 4 10:51:50 EST 2001.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Lagaan has been unanimously chosen as India's entry for Oscars Foreign Film Category for 2002. It beat Monsoon Weddings and Asoka. Though this is not the first ARR movie to be chosen, with Jeans selected in 98, this is definitely a more credible choice.
Will this mark a new beginning or open up newer horizons for ARR? As ALW's Bombay Dreams is more a Broadway production, this may introduce ARR to Hollywood in a big way. Or will Lagaan just find itself piled in the garbage can, following the very first round of selections, as all past Indian entries have?

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.133) on: Thu Nov 8 02:12:32 EST 2001
  
  A major Digression: Since we were talking abt Kamal earlier, has anyone heard about kamal's wish to enter politics? http://www.vikatan.com/vc/2001/nov/vc0404.htm
  
  or in English, http://movies.sify.com/ and choose Tamil.
  
  
  
• From: Trend (@ 216.68.113.230) on: Thu Nov 8 10:10:43 EST 2001
  
  WhyNot,
  
  Directors like Mira Nair(director of "Monsoon wedding") and Deepa Mehta have stronger roots in the Anglo-Indian culture(whatever that is!).They always present a detached view of Indian culture and exploring its possibilities (sometimes in a sarcastic way) which is supposed to make us feel sensitive to the issue in a subtle way and with more depth.
  The panel that decides the film to be selected for Oscar cannot select these kinds of films as representative of Indian movies for obvious reasons.If I understand correctly Mira Nair should be aware of this too.I don't know why she is complaining now.
  Personally, I think these kinds of movies should be encouraged to be made but I wouldn't call it a pucca-Indian film and also Lagaan is a much better choice.
  
  
• From: TNS (@ 203.197.135.198) on: Thu Nov 8 13:40:42 EST 2001
  
  With some lobbying at Academy corridors Ameer can push Lagaan to get nominated....If he succeds in this I am sure Lagaan will grab Oscar...The nearly 4 hour flick even seeing for second time one does not get bored....Lagaan is getting OSCAR this time....
  
  
• From: Fliflo (@ 130.203.161.77) on: Thu Nov 8 13:51:08 EST 2001
  
  "If he succeds in this I am sure Lagaan will grab Oscar.."
  
  Is life that easy??
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.137) on: Fri Nov 9 00:13:58 EST 2001
  
  What do u guys think of the idea of submitting Lagaan for other categories? Remember how last year's best foreign film winner, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" also won the Achievement in music (Original score) award? Do u think Lagaan would stand a chance?
  
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.137) on: Fri Nov 9 23:53:28 EST 2001
  
  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=1780263704
  
  Gowariker (director) speaks of submitting Lagaan for every possible category! This may be his techniques for getting the academy members to see his movie.
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Tue Nov 13 12:59:49 EST 2001
  
  Here are some dates to look out for, with regards to the Oscars: http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/01.06.25.html
  
  The most important I guess, are
  February 1, 2002: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PST.
  February 12, 2002: All nominations announced at 5:30 a.m. PST, Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
  
  We have some wait I guess, till then.
  
  Trend, yes Mira Nair is sounding like a sore loser. She should just shut up and live up to what she said earlier about Oscars not being that important to her.
  
  
• From: Jo (@ ) on: Tue Dec 18 09:45:45 EST 2001
  
  Lagaan deserves an Oscar or 2!! It is a masterpiece. It has great narration, characterisation. The time has come for these racist idiots to open their eyes to the sheer beauty of this film. The Indian film industry does not make films such as Lagaan often. This time Lagaan ought to win.
  
  
• From: Chris (@ 202.129.95.21) on: Tue Dec 18 09:49:12 EST 2001
  
  Lagaan is the best movie of this year so far. Despite watching it without the subtitles, it had universal appeal. The crowds went crazy in the cinemas, cheering for the illiterate farmers. Hope this movie wins the best foreign film at the Oscars. Can't wait till the DVD is out.
  
  What a brilliant idea!! Great narration, characterisation and fantastic story!! I was comparing it to the Ashes. The Underdog Aussies and the Pomies in the Bodyline series. It is hard to believe that an Indian film could have such an impact. Go aussie go!! and go Lagaan and CRICKET!!!
  
  
  
• From: Chris (@ 202.129.95.21) on: Tue Dec 18 09:50:00 EST 2001
  
  Lagaan is the best movie of this year so far. Despite watching it without the subtitles, it had universal appeal. The crowds went crazy in the cinemas, cheering for the illiterate farmers. Hope this movie wins the best foreign film at the Oscars. Can't wait till the DVD is out.
  
  What a brilliant idea!! Great narration, characterisation and fantastic story!! I was comparing it to the Ashes. The Underdog Aussies and the Pomies in the Bodyline series. It is hard to believe that an Indian film could have such an impact. Go aussie go!! and go Lagaan and CRICKET!!!
  
  
  
• From: subash (@ 130.65.85.211) on: Tue Dec 18 22:29:57 EST 2001
  
  i'll feel as bad as you guys when lagaan doesn't get the oscar because it is a great movie with great music.
  
  the reasons it won't:
  
  1) the academy awards only pick movies that AREN'T french or italian if they've been a big success in the American mainstream theaters (if the white people like them) like "crouching tiger" last year. otherwise, they don't stand a chance
  
  2) even if lagaan was analyzed, hollywood prefers its foreign films to be realist films, not flat-out entertainers. plus they'll dismiss lagaan's storyline -- wrongly -- as "just another sports movie"
  
  i bet they'll pick "amelie" (french) or something as best foreign film this year.
  
  
• From: ~Senthil~ (@ 12.239.160.236) on: Wed Dec 19 00:55:51 EST 2001
  
  Interesting postings...here is my opinion. Lagaan in a Great movie, Good story, Good narration etc.. But it isn't oscar material (sorry!). While I understand the sentiments but please don't the blame the Oscar committee for bias against Indian films. No films garner Oscar without lobyying but in addtion to that there are certain integral and unique "elements" in oscar films. That is definetely missing in Lagaan. So, I doubt it will hit the podium. Lets just hope Lagaan spooks the panelists with sentiments (something like what happened to "Traffic"). A tough bet.
  
  
• From: siva (@ 195.93.49.187) on: Wed Dec 19 12:20:45 EST 2001
  
  looks at some of the films that lagaan has to compete-lord of the rings and harry potter -atleast in the other sections apart from the foreign movie section.
  
  
• From: Bharath (@ 192.25.158.12) on: Wed Dec 19 14:06:50 EST 2001
  
  siva,
  
  lord of the rings hasnt been released yet! wud it make the deadline.. harry potter isnt oscar material..
  
  
• From: Trend (@ 216.68.113.230) on: Wed Dec 19 14:40:30 EST 2001
  
  Bharath,
  Digression:
  "lord of the rings hasnt been released yet!"
  
  It released today.Critics are raving about the movie and consider it to be the favourite to sweep the Special Effects and technical categories.
  This year Oscar looks even drier than last year( Soderbergh and Ang Lee were the saving graces).Eagerly looking forward to a "Oscar-performance" from Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind.
  
  
• From: siva (@ 195.93.49.152) on: Wed Dec 19 15:07:07 EST 2001
  
  bharath,
  visit http://www.imdb.com
  the movie has a rating of 9.6 out of 10-highest ever so far-the weighted aggregate is 8 is since only 1500 or so have voted-go thru the viewers response-amazing!
  
  
• From: siva (@ 195.93.49.152) on: Wed Dec 19 15:11:20 EST 2001
  
  http://us.imdb.com/CommentsShow?0120737
  
  
• From: subash (@ 130.65.85.211) on: Wed Dec 19 16:02:17 EST 2001
  
  why are you guys talking about HARRY POTTER and LORD OF THE RINGS? those two aren't going to the oscars.
  
  the nominees will be films like VANILLA SKY and A BEAUTIFUL MIND, THE MAJESTIC, IN THE BEDROOM, MULHOLLAND DRIVE, and WAKING LIFE.
  
  Oh, by the way, I saw "Lord of the Rings" today. Don't diss it. It's an EXCELLENT movie. But that, too, is not Academy material.
  
  By the way, I'm willing to bet anyone here five bucks that Lagaan won't get nominated. And I'm willing to bet anyone fifty bucks it won't win.
  
  
• From: subash (@ 130.65.85.211) on: Wed Dec 19 16:18:55 EST 2001
  
  hey, if you want to go by imdb ratings, lord of the rings has a 9.7 right now. i just checked
  
  
• From: Trend (@ 216.68.113.230) on: Wed Dec 19 16:32:29 EST 2001
  
  subash,
  
  Aren't the special effects worthy of Oscar nomination in LOTR?Are you sure?
  Vanilla Sky and The Majestic?Hope you are not serious about these two movies!The Majestic is just a cheesy film and a bad one in that(Jim Carrey's performance is the only good thing).I had the misfortune of seeing it.:(
  
  The real weighted rating is 8.3.
  
  
• From: Ramki (@ 161.150.2.250) on: Wed Dec 19 16:36:41 EST 2001
  
  Trend and Subash you may want to continue this discussion here :)
  
  http://www.forumhub.com/intlfilms/12671.15.25.28.html
  
  
• From: Pal (@ 24.18.103.38) on: Wed Dec 19 16:42:12 EST 2001
  
  Trend: Where did you see "The Majestic"?
  
  
• From: Trend (@ 216.68.113.230) on: Wed Dec 19 16:50:40 EST 2001
  
  Pal,
  
  Digression:
  Sneak preview.
  
  Ramki,
  I'll do that.:)
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.133) on: Thu Dec 20 09:44:17 EST 2001
  
  I finally got to watch Monsoon Weddings. It was an excellent movie though not an all out oscar material. But then, I haven't watched Lagaan yet and so dont have a basis for comparison.
  But i thought the Indian situation was fairly portrayed (for a mira nair works) balancing both the rich/middle-class and poor portrayals to a certain extent.
  
  
• From: paamaran (@ 207.188.29.248) on: Thu Dec 20 17:11:25 EST 2001
  
  Golden Globes:
  
  The lovable French import Amélie was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, alongside Brazil's Behind the Sun, India's Monsoon Wedding, Bosnia's No Man's Land and Mexico's Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too).
  
  more here
  http://entertainment.msn.com/news/eonline/122001_globenoms.asp
  
  
• From: paamaran (@ 207.188.29.248) on: Thu Dec 20 17:14:27 EST 2001
  
  Golden Globe
  Best Original Score: Craig Armstrong, Moulin Rouge; Angelo Baldamenti, Mulholland Drive; Lisa Gerrard & Pierre Bourke, Ali; James Horner, A Beautiful Mind; Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; John Williams, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone; Hans Zimmer, Pearl Harbor
  
  Golden Globe Nominations
  http://msn.eonline.com/News/More/globe01noms.html?msn
  
  

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